IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES

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THANGAL KUNJU MUSALIYAR

Born in 1897 at Kollam. Father: Ahammed Kunju Musaliyar. Thangal Kunju Musaliyar was one of the prominent industrialists of Kerala. Realising the potentialities of cashew export, he established about 28 cashew factories at Kollam. With the profit gained from the industries, he established an Engineering College at Kollam, now known as the Thangal Kunju Memmorial College of Engineering. He also established a junior college at Kollam. He played a vital role in the overall development of Kollam. He died in February 1966.

THANU PILLAI, PATTOM

Born on July 15 1885.Father: Varadayyar.Mother: Eswari Amma. Pattom A.Thanu Pillai was a national leader who came though the national renaissance movement. He was in the forefront of the struggle for the establishment of a responsible government in Kerala. He was bold and lone adventurist. He was the light of freedom in the horizon, forgot everything and fought for the independence of the country. He was a patriot by every inch. He was a great man, having a glowing and time tested personality. In him we witnessed the noble qualities in Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai, Veluthanpi Dalava and Raja Kesavadas. He stood for freedom, for struggle and for diplomacy. Pattom was the State President of the Congress Party for 14 years.Later he joined Praja Socialist Party and became its Chairman for 12 years. He was the first Prime Minister of independent Travancore State. He became Chief Minister of Kerala for two terms. He was appointed as the Governor of Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. He died on July 26, 1970.

THIKKURUSSI SUKUMARAN NAIR

Born on 9 Tulam 1092 (ME). Father: C.Govinda Pillai. Mother: Lekshmy Amma. Thikkurussi was a celebrated cine artist, devoted dramatist, skilled scriptwriter and lyrist. He acted in more than 450 films of south Indian languages. He was an embodiment of all noble inborn abilities. He won the Best Actor Award in 1973. He directed 15 films. He wrote lyrics and script/dialogue for more than 25 films. The Government of India awarded him Padmasree. He died in 1990.

THAMBAN KRISHNAN NAIR.A.

Born on 1st June 1960 at Kizhakkumkara, Near Kanhangad. Father: Sri (Late Krishnan Nair) Mother: Smt. Thambai Amma. Sri.Thamban Krishnan Nair is one of the leading entreprenuers among NRIs. On completing MBA in Marketing, he was appointed as Branch Manager of the LIC of India. After serving LIC of India for quite a long period, he retired voluntarily and joined Alliance Insurance, Dubai in 1999. Now he is the Chief Branch Manager of the Alliance Insurance. He is also one of the Directors of MAP Medicare (P) Ltd., a leading firm that exports Indian medicines and medical equipments to foreign countries. Being an ardent social worker, he has been closely associated with various charitable societies like Hindu Charitable Trust,Nairs Welfare Associations,'Kairali', and Bombay Association etc.As part of his work he frequently visit most of the foreign countries. Smt.Suma is his wife. They have two chilren.

THOMAS.C.J.

Born on November 14, 1918 at Koothattukulam. Father: Yohannan. C.J.Thomas was a dramatist and a critic. He was the editor of periodicals, Chitrodayam, Prasanna Keralam, and Democrat. His dramas bestowed a new experience to the Malayalam theatre. Avan Veendum Varunnu, Uyarunna Yavanika, 1120 il Crime, Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne, Salomi, Ivan Ente Priya Puthran are his main theatrical works. He died on July14, 1960.

THUNCHATHU RAMAJUNAN EZHUTHACHAN

It is believed that Ezhuthachan was born at Thunchan Veetil near Trikaniyur temple of Vettathunad in the year 670 (ME) (AD 1495). Kerala Sahithya Charithram firmly ascertain that the life period of Ezhuthachan was between 670 and 750 (ME).The males o the Thunchan family taught reading and writing to the children and thus they got the name Ezhuthachan. After preliminary education in Sanskrit and Malayalam, Ezhuthachan went to Tamil Nadu for higher studies. On return he chose the job of educating children. In his leisurely times he wrote Adhyatma Ramayanam in Malayalam. It was composed in the style of cuckoo song (Kilippattu). When Zamorin attacked Vettathunad, Ezhuthachan started his pilgrimage with the completed copy of Adhyatma Ramayana. The Chambath Mannadiyar of Chitoor persuaded him to stay there and Ezhuthachan lived there by establishing an Ashrama. Ezhuthachan wrote Uttararamacharitham, Mahabharatham, Mahabhagavatham, Devi Mahathmyam, Brahmandapuranam etc. He made a revolution through his Kilippattu. It was he who gave an attractive form and shape to Malayalam language and made it suitable to handle any subject. He reformed the vocabulary and shaped separate Malayalam letters. He contributed the Manipravalam style to Malayalam language by bringing together Malayalam and Sanskrit in a unique form. He placed the whole society in the path of spiritual progress. Along with the emergence of Bhakthi cult in India, it blossomed in Kerala also. The Bhakthi cult of Ezhuthachan exercised a deep influence in leading the nair families, which was suppressed under the Brahmin supremacy during 5th to 17th centuries, to the path of progress. The Brahmin rule that restricted Sudras from learning letters and education was questioned during this period. The Nair community, which was longing for progress for a very long period under the Brahmin supremacy, emerged strongly during the period. The Malayalam literature also had full-fledged growth during that period. Ezhuthachan gave the leadership for unification and renewal of two branches of literature, which was moving in diverse directions up to the 15th century. The lyrics he composed in kilippattu (cuckko song) brought Malayalam literature to modern path. It was the Nairs who came forward for education in ‘Gurumutts’ (schools) established by Ezhuthachan and his followers. Only the Nair community had the maturity and sense to understand the views of Ezhuthachan. As a result, Nair community had a leap to the higher fields of Kerala life. It was Ezhuthachan who protected the people, especially the Nairs, from the verge of cultural degeneration. Nairs were indeed fortunate enough to get the leadership of Ezhuthachan to rose to the heights and glory.